Gitte Holtsø

Attorney-at-Law, Partner

Gitte Holtsø is a specialist in EU competition law and public procurement law. Gitte heads our EU and Competition Law team.

Gitte began her career at the Danish Ministry of Justice, which included working as a public prosecutor and as a deputy judge. She has a Master of Laws (L.LM.) from the University of Cambridge and she qualified as an English solicitor at BPP Law School in London in 2000 whilst working at Charles Russell's Solicitors, London, in their corporate and competition law division.

Gitte has been involved in a large number of high-profile anti-trust cases in Denmark and the EU, such as the Danish State's sale of shares in Ørsted to Goldman Sachs, ATP and PFA, and EY's acquisition of KPMG's Danish activities. She has vast experience specifically in M&A matters including representing clients in European and multi-jurisdictional merger notifications.

Another area of Gitte’s expertise is EU and Danish public procurement. She has assisted contracting authorities such as Sund & Bælt Holding in relation to the construction of the Femern Belt Fixed Link, as well as suppliers, in particular within the pharmaceutical sector, in relation to securing a positive outcome in several cases before the Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement.

Gitte has been an expert judge for the Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement and she is a member of the Danish Lawyers’ Association’s expert committee on Public Procurement law.

Highlights


EU and Competition Law 

  • Novozymes (now Novonesis) – the merger between Novozymes and Chr. Hansen (the largest merger in Danish history), notification to the EU Commission with clearance in phase I with commitments as well as notification in a number of other world-wide jurisdictions
  • Tryg A/S – Tryg A/S and Intact Financial Corporations acquisition of RSA Insurance Group plc. Of a total of GBP 7.2 billion, including notification to a number of national competition authorities. The transaction is the largest share capital market transaction ever to have been completed in Danish capital market history
  • The Danish Ministry of Finance – advice in connection with the entering into of an investment agreement between SAS AB and a consortium consisting of the Danish state, Castlelake, Air France-KLM and Lind Invest in the context of SAS AB's ongoing reorganization process 
  • EY International – assisting EY before the national court and the European Court of Justice in relation to the groundbreaking "gun-jumping-case" following EY's acquisition of KPMG's Danish activities
  • Faerch A/S – acquisition of PACCOR Packaging GmbH from the investment firm Lindsay Goldberg, including notification to and clearance by the EU Commission and national competition authorities
  • Rosendahl Design Group A/S – case regarding resale price maintenance
  • Demant A/S – divestment of Demant's business area for cochlear implants to Cochlear Ltd., including merger notification to the European Commission based on referrals from 13 Member States under Article 22 of the Merger Regulation and Phase II investigations in the UK and Australia
  • Bjerregaard Sikkerhed A/S – acquittal for infringement of Section 6 of the Danish Competition Act - allegation of cartel activity
  • Gastech-Energi A/S – case before the Danish Competition Council and the Danish Competition Appeals Tribunal as well as criminal proceedings for illegal price coordination
  • The Danish Ministry of Finance and Ørsted – the Danish State's sale of shares in DONG Energy (Ørsted) to Goldman Sachs, ATP and PFA, and the subsequent IPO, including state aid issues and the merger notification of both transactions to the EU Commission
  • Equinor Refining Norway (owned by the Norwegian state) – the acquisition of Danske Commodities, notified to and cleared by the EU Commission
  • Circle K (Statoil Fuel & Retail) – the acquisition of Dansk Shell, notified to and cleared in phase II by the EU Commission and in the subsequent divestment sale of certain assets to DCC also cleared by the EU Commission
  • The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Ministry of Culture – the contemplated (partly) privatisation of TV2
  • The Danish Central Bank (Nationalbanken), Danske Bank, Nykredit, Nordea and Jyske Bank – sale of shares in VP Securities to the pan-European exchange and market infrastructure group, Euronext
  • Nordea, Danske Bank, Arbejdernes Landsbank, SEB and Jyske Bank – LR Realkredit's sale to Nykredit, including notification to and clearance by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority

Public Procurement Law

  • Alstom Transport Danmark – DSB's tender for a contract for new electronic trainsets with an estimated value of DKK 50 billion, including conducting a landmark case before the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, which ruled in Alstom's favour that DSB was obliged to request Alstom to replace one of the supporting entities that did not meet the minimum requirement for economic and financial standing, which ensured Alstom's continued participation in the tender
  • Kalallit Airports – construction of the new airports in Greenland and assistance in the completion of multiple tenders related to the construction of the airports
  • Sund & Bælt Holding – the construction of the Femern Belt Fixed Link
  • RWE Renewables AB – advice on public procurement law relating to the construction of the Thor Wind Farm

Ratings

  • Gitte Holtsø is and has continuously for many years been ranked as a leading individual by Chambers, listed as a "Global Leader", "Thought Leader" and an expert by Who's Who Legal and recommended by Legal500 as regards Competition/European Law as well as Public Procurement/Government Contracts. Moreover, Gitte Holtsø is and has continuously for many years been listed as the only individual in Denmark within Competition and Antitrust in the category "Women in Business Law" by Expert Guides.

  • Gitte Holtsø is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition.

    "We have most recently worked with Gitte Holtsø who is highly skilled, has a great business acumen, is always pleasant to work with, very responsive and to-the-point in her advice" (2024)

  • Gitte Holtsø is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Competition/European Law and as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law: Public Procurement.

    Gitte Holtsø is impressively active on high-value merger clearance filings and frequently acts for clients in behavioural investigations and appeals against decisions. She also assists clients with contentious public procurement mandates.

    "Gitte is very skilled and knowledgeable within the field, and provides commercial and to-the-point advice"

    "She is a top-tier competition lawyer and our preferred choice" (2024)

  • Gitte Holtsø is listed as a "Thought Leader" and recommended as a "Global Leader" as regards Competition. Further, she is recommended as a "Global Leader" as regards Government - Government Contracts (2023)

  • Gitte Holtsø is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition.

    "Gitte Holtsø is likeable, knowledgeable, and experienced, which is invaluable when dealing with the authorities"

    "Gitte Holtsø and Daniel Barry are highly qualified and offer sustainable and to the point advice" (2023)

  • Gitte Holtsø is ranked as a leading individual (Band 1) as regards Competition/European Law and as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law: Public Procurement.

    Gitte Holtsø is highly regarded for advising clients on merger clearance mandates, as well as representing them in investigations into alleged exchanges of sensitive information and price coordination. She also offers experience in public procurement matters in the energy and transport sector.

    "She is very skillful, a very keen listener and generally just pleasant to work with."

    "She is very good at balancing and making commercial solutions."

    "She is very good at putting legal solutions into a commercial context and finding solutions that are pragmatic."

    "She is highly responsive and sharp, gives constructive advice and is nice to work with." (2023)

  • Gitte Holtsø is recommended and listed as a leading individual as regards EU and Competition (2020+2021+2022)

  • Gitte Holtsø is ranked as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law as well as Public Procurement.

    Head of department Gitte Holtsø is a notable presence who advises on both public procurement and competition law mandates. She possesses significant experience in merger control issues, as well as disputes over anti-competitive agreements and price fixing allegations. Clients praise her "high commercial understanding which helps to achieve pragmatic and executable solutions" (2022)

  • Gitte Holtsø is ranked as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law as well as Public Procurement.

    Gitte Holtsø handles both public procurement and competition law mandates. She possesses significant experience in merger control issues, as well as disputes over anti-competitive agreements and price fixing allegations. A source praises her as "sharp-minded and very knowledgeable" while also noting that "she is particularly good at creating pragmatic and executable solutions for her clients" (2021)

  • Gitte Holtsø is ranked as a leading individual as regards Competition/European Law as well as Public Procurement.

    Gitte Holtsø handles both public procurement and competition law mandates. She possesses significant experience in merger control issues, as well as disputes over allegations of anti-competitive agreements and price fixing. Clients commend her for her "stellar knowledge and experience within the field of expertise," in addition to remarking that she "combines great expertise with a commercial mindset" (2020)

  • Gitte Holtsø, who is "very practical, highly skilled and always available" (2019)

  • Department head Gitte Holtsø is active in both competition and public procurement cases. She often represents clients before the competition authorities. Interviewees emphasise her trustworthy advice, saying: "She is highly skilled and knows our business very well. You feel safe when she is advising" (2019)

     

  • "Exceptionally specialized" Gitte Holtsø leads the group (2018) 

  • "Head of department Gitte Holtsø is lauded by clients as "very practical, highly skilled" and "always available". She practises in all areas of competition law and public procurement, including high-profile merger control and antitrust matters. Clients are impressed by her informed and tailored approach, with one source reporting: "She is energetic and interested in clients and how their businesses operate" (2018)

  • Highly recommended group head Gitte Holtsø (2017)

  • Gitte Holtsø handles handles a range of matters within the sector, including high-profile antitrust cases, public procurement and competition-related M&A matters. Clients say: "She is really good, very skilled and knowledgeable. Having worked with her for a while, you can tell that she really knows what she's doing" (2017)

  • Gitte Holtsø is highly regarded for her "stellar, solution-oriented approach" (2016)

  • According to clients, "Gitte Holtsø is an excellent lawyer with good industry expertise and also good ability to be creative in the process" (2016)
  •  
    "Gitte Holtsø applies a skilful hand to both competition and procurement matters" (2015)
  • According to sources, Gitte Holtsø "understands where your business is coming from, and does not just see things through the lens of the domestic law." She advises on merger control cases and cartel investigations, and is noted for her expertise on public procurement projects for private companies (2014)
  • She "really understands the competition authorities" (2013)
  •  
    The "bright and precise" Gitte Holtsø stands out for her public procurement and merger control advice. Clients highlight her calm approach as well as her accessibility, flexibility and resourcefulness (2013)

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